by Eric H.

New England is the blueberry capital of the United States. The small fruit with the high antioxidant activity (wild blueberries are the most healthy) indeed tastes fine on its own, but, to many, is more fun when implemented into a pie or ice cream.

When it comes to blueberry pies, Harrows in North Reading, Mass., has been delivering the goods for generations. Harrows is an old-fashioned oasis in the middle of a strip mall nation, where the blueberry pie has always been exceptionally flavorful, thanks to Harrows steadfast mission to make homemade food. In addition to the wonderful blueberry pie, Harrows specializes in perhaps the best chicken pot pie we've sampled in New England.

Brown's Ice Cream (Nubble Rd., York Beach, Maine. Tel. 207-363-1277) and Bubbling Brook (152 High St. (Route 109), Westwood, Mass. Tel. 781-762-9860) take the blueberry ice cream honors, with the former offering a more authentic taste and the latter satisfying a severe sweet tooth. The Bubbling Brook balance of sugar and blueberries favor the sugar, but the overall taste is quite addictive. Gifford Farms, of Skowhegan, Maine, also makes a wonderful blueberry ice cream, using wild Maine blueberries with a blueberry ripple. Many New England restaurants use Gifford's, as well as food outlets across parts of New England. Gifford's also owns dairy bars in Skowhegan, Farmington, Bangor and  Waterville.

Stonewall Kitchen, of York, Maine, offers the most full-bodied blueberry jam at its retail wonderland of fresh New England products, as well as an incredible offering kitchen, gardening and home goods. Stonewall Kitchen blueberry jam is available at many retail outlets across the United States so be on the lookout for this premier jam.

The nutritional supplement industry has found creative and valid ways to get your daily dose of blueberries. Megafood, of Derry, N.H., is a unique nutritional company that packs a lot of whole food into its vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements. One of its best supplements is the organic "Wild Blueberry." Unlike conventional supplements that isolate the nutrient (since when does that happen in nature?), Megafood uses the whole food in their supplements to give you the desired amount of a certain nutrient. Each wild blueberry supplement is the equivalent of seven wild blueberries, thus making it convenient year-round to ensure getting a measured amount of this blue superfood. "Wild Blueberry" is available at many health food stores.

Eating wild blueberries year-round is possible, thanks to Jasper Wyman and Son, of Millbridge, Maine, which offers frozen wild blueberries at select supermarkets and health food stores. The quality of the blueberries is unsurpassed and makes a great addition to your morning cereal, smoothie with vanilla whey, or just eating straight from the bag.

Blueberry picking can be a lot of fun, as long as there are blueberries to pick. We've had much success at The Big Apple (207 Arnold St. Wrentham, Mass., Tel. (508) 384-3055) set in a beautiful farm setting in Wrentham, Mass. In late August, the vast blueberry fields yield plenty of healthy, plump, nicely colored blueberries. The Big Apple also wins brownie points by offering an ice cream stand, a wonderful produce area and one of the best apple crisps we've sampled.

For detailed information on wild blueberries, visit the Maine-based Wild Blueberry Association of North America Web Site. WBANA is a trade association of growers and processors of Wild Blueberries from Maine, dedicated to bringing the Wild Blueberry health story and unique Wild Advantages to consumers worldwide.

Wild Maine Blueberry Jam